NEW DELHI: Delhi is set to get two modern biomedical-waste treatment facilities to strengthen its disposal system, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Wednesday. The plants will serve the east, northeast and Shahdara districts (Region 1), and the west, southwest and central districts (Region 2).
The move follows a review which found that the capital’s existing facilities cannot handle the biomedical-waste load, currently around 40 metric tonnes a day. The Nilothi plant, operating on repeated extensions, will be phased out and replaced by the new units.
Sirsa said the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has been directed to issue tenders within three months, with letters of award finalised soon after. The projects will run on a build-own-operate (BOO) model with a 10-year term. The National Productivity Council (NPC) has been engaged for transparency and rigorous scrutiny.
“This is 24x7 work with clear deadlines—choosing long-term fixes over short-term optics so results are visible on the ground,” Sirsa said. He added that the new facilities would ensure biomedical waste never becomes an air or health hazard for the national capital.
Daily dashboards on tender stages, land readiness, clearances and mobilisation will be submitted to the minister’s office to track progress and prevent service gaps during Nilothi’s transition.
Officials said the two plants would ease logistical bottlenecks and bring capacity closer to healthcare clusters. Delhi currently lags behind other metros operating more treatment units despite similar population sizes.
“By strengthening capacity where it is needed most, Delhi is rebuilding the foundation—coverage, monitoring, and compliance,” Sirsa said, stressing that the initiative would create “future-ready infrastructure that protects public health and the environment.” The government said the initiative aligns with its broader push to plug legacy gaps in waste management and ensure compliance with Central Pollution Control Board and DPCC norms.
DPCC directed to issue tenders within 3 months
Sirsa said the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has been directed to issue tenders within three months, with letters of award finalised soon after. The projects will run on a build-own-operate model with a 10-year term. The National Productivity Council has been engaged for transparency & rigorous scrutiny.